Plan for David Myers
by Dave Myers · 02/13/2005 (9:33 pm) · 12 comments
I just spent a few hours this weekend trying to put a little something together in the beta version of the T2D engine. I'm still managing to waste too much time on piddly little things, but that's the story of my life as a programmer in general I think sometimes. At any rate, I did get to know some of the engine and while I'm no expert at all yet on it I still feel comfortable going ahead with it as a primary tool for my games at Lumpy.
Unfortunately, I didn't get as much done as I had hoped, but I took some screenshots anyways because...well, too many words and not enough pictures makes joe-reader an unhappy camper and likely to send me hate mail.
Get yer Collapse art rip-off right here!
I'm putting together a twist on the classic bubble-popper games, like Bejeweled and Collapse amongst others. I have been putzing with the design off-and-on for a couple of years, but never really did anything with it. You can't really tell anything at all about the game play by looking at my pics, and they aren't all that impressive considering the programmer art. However, I find the latest incarnation I put together pretty close to something fun and playable, I just need to now put it into T2D.
Old programmer art from previous prototypes
Where'd my pieces go....stupid gravity button
I've been thinking a little about it, and I thought it might be fun to let other people play it once I have a prototype done that is fairly gameplay complete. Get some feedback, maybe get some other people's ideas into the game if it seems to fit. Have some fun with it basically. Of course, I need those guys to ship T2D first I think, but they're gonna do that any day now I imagine.
At least we have the concept of popping in there now
I'm sure there will be people that'll read this and say "Woopee, another 2D bubble-popper. I'm going back and working on my REAL game". Well, all I have to say to that is pfft. ;) I like working on this particular game because it is an interesting design challenge for me. And while 1000 more people will decide today that they are gonna make the next World of Warcraft with no money or skills and never deliver, I'll be happily tinkering around for a while and then finishing my little game.
Popped and collapsed. Now just need to fill in the holes
And then, of course, I'll go make MY real game. ;)
About the author
Considerable experience developing with Torque-based technologies and produced the first third-party game using any Torque technology (Orbz). Game designer, programmer, and producer, and credits include the innovative title Orbz and the colorful BuggOut.
#2
02/13/2005 (10:11 pm)
Hey Dave, good work so far man. Perfect first project for Lumpy, and for learning T2D. If you do finish this up and sell it, awesome. If you don't feel like putting in everything it takes to make a full game, this might be cool for a T2D demo, and could help get Lumpy's name out. Anyway, cool beans, keep us up to date, and thanks for helping us test! :) 
#3
02/13/2005 (10:24 pm)
I don't think the plan is to sell it. See Dave's last blog entry. 
#4
P.S. what does nmi stand for?
another P.S. looks like 21-6 has a similar freebie
02/13/2005 (11:11 pm)
I like the idea of this being a freebie to help promote... something. I also like the idea of using it as a minigame within another game. I also like the idea of doing the game because you enjoy making fun games, and to hell with what comes of it. An artist never needs to justify their work.P.S. what does nmi stand for?
another P.S. looks like 21-6 has a similar freebie
#5
02/13/2005 (11:43 pm)
Designing these so called "simple" 2d games is challenging work. I've failed at it enough to know that much about it. 
#6
Dave is currently my best friend and he knows why.
Good luck there Dave.
- Melv.
02/14/2005 (1:56 am)
T2D Game Pictures ... woot ... bring 'em on!!!!Dave is currently my best friend and he knows why.
Good luck there Dave.
- Melv.
#7
Cool...
So, when do we get to play with a Lumpy game?
02/14/2005 (6:08 am)
We can send you hate mail?Cool...
So, when do we get to play with a Lumpy game?
#8
02/14/2005 (6:49 am)
Nope, the plan really isn't to sell it. The plan also isn't to put tons of time into it. Let's hope that last is really true. ;)
#9
02/14/2005 (9:31 am)
You should have it to use as a minigame during loading of the main game. That would be really awesome.
#10
02/14/2005 (1:33 pm)
unless the game loads too fast. what does nmi stand for?
#11
Actually, it doesn't stand for anything. I was just lazy and didn't rename the image when I replaced it recently on the site. Guess I ought to get a real website of some kind one of these days.
02/14/2005 (2:39 pm)
N.M.I. actually. It's uber top secret. If I tell you, I have to kill you. So, it's up to you - do you really want to know? ;)Actually, it doesn't stand for anything. I was just lazy and didn't rename the image when I replaced it recently on the site. Guess I ought to get a real website of some kind one of these days.
#12
Messed up a datablock setting and..hm...that might be an interesting game too
Lotsa purty colors
Purty silver color for blocks to be popped
Added in some bonus pieces to pop now
02/14/2005 (11:03 pm)
Some more pics after a little more time tinkering tonight. Messed up a datablock setting and..hm...that might be an interesting game too
Lotsa purty colors
Purty silver color for blocks to be popped
Added in some bonus pieces to pop now
Torque 3D Owner Jay Barnson
Yeah, this might be hard to sell on it's own, but that doesn't make it a useless project. Besides lessons learned while making it... you could release a game like this as a FREE download for advertising. Or a minigame within another game. Or maybe it could be cleaned up and polished enough to sell on it's own... who knows?
Besides, it looks cool.